Refrigerator



July 2, 1929- M. c. TERRY 1,719,634

REFRIGERATOR Original Filed June 4, 1923 Mcm@ Fu am ATTORNEY of the motor is especiall brushes, and thereb Patented July .2,7 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE.

HATSONV O. TERRY, OF IANSFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF IPENNSYLVANIA.

REFRIGEBATOR. I

Application. led June `4, 1923, Serial No. 643,309. Renewed December 10, 1926.

My invention relates to refrigerating ma-` chihes, particularly to small capacity machines of the compression type which are suitable for household use and it has for an object to provide a novel method and means for lubricating the mechanism which shall be'e'ective during long periods of service without attention.

It has for another object to provide amethod and means for lubricating the bearings of an enclosed driving motor which shall confine the lubricant to the bearings and conveying meansl exclusively, and thereby prevent any damage to the current bear- 'ing portions of the motor which may be caused by leaka e.

These and ot er objects, which will be made apparent through the further description of my invention, may be attained by the employment of the apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which the figure `is a view in longitudinal Asection illustratya valved conduit lfor returning the condensed fluid at a reduced ressure into the evaporation chamber. T e compression mechanism, consisting principally of a motor and a compressor, is very frequently tightly encased in the condensing chamber to prevent escape of the working fluid. For this reason, some means for the lubrication thereof must be provided which will operate without attention continuously and reliably for long`periods of time, as for example, for 'one or more years.

The problem of lubricating the bearings dilicult owing to the danger of permittlng even a small amount of lubricant to .come into contact with the windings, the commutator or the cause a short circuiting of the motor. t is to this .problem of effectively lubricating the bearings of motors which have been encased in the condensseparating the mixe ing chambers of refrigerating machines, that the present invention relates.

Referring to the drawing for a. description of my invention, I show the condensmg chamber of a compression refrigerator of the type disclosed in a copending application of A. A. Kucher, serially numbered 509,672, led October 22, 1921, and entitled Refrigeration machine, and in which my novel method of operation may be carried out. It is to be understood that this invention may be racticed in other types of compression madliines and that the apparatus illustrated and herein described is employed by way of example and as an aid in presenting a clear exposition of my invention. As illustrated, 10 ydesignates a condensing chamber. A compressor v11 driven by a suitable motor 12 is dis osed within the chamber. The condensing c amber 10'comprises a bell or dome 13 secured to a base plate 14 as by bolts 15. Sup rted upon the base plate 14 is an inverte cupshaped casting 16 forming a housing for the motor, and su erimposed thereon is a receptacle 17 whic houses the compressor 11 and serves as acollection chamber for the liquid working fluid discharged by the compressor. Suspended from the base plate 14 is a removab e cup-shaped casting 18 for permitting renewal of the commutator brushes associated with the motor.

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The motor shaft 21 is secured to the com-. presser shaft 22 bysuitablevke s 23, thus producing, in effect, a common s aft. This shaft is supported by a lower bearin 24 provided in the casting 18, an intermediate bearing 25 .provided inthe upper portion of the casting 16,- and an upper bearing 26 provided in the compressor. The compressor may be of any well-known type, and, as shown, is provided with an inlet port 28 and a discharge port 29. The dischar e port 29 communicateswith 'a conduit 35 geving an open end 36 and supfporting a bale 37, fon liquid working fluid and vapor discharged from the .com ressor. The receptacle 17 communicates with the condensing chamber through an outlet 38 provided in the upper portion thereof for the passage of refrigerating vapors, and through an opening 32, whereby an excessive rise in the 'level of the liquid working fluid within the receptacle is prevented.

Condensing coils 39 are arranged in the upper part of the dome 13 and are provided with an inlet connection 41 and an outlet suction port 28 of the compressor. An electric cable 47 for furnishin motor passes through a fluid-tight plug 48 in the base plate 14.

Lubricant is supplied to the upper shaft bearing 26 by means of an inverted bent tube 51 having an open inlet and its discharge'communicating through a reducer 54 with a cylindrical passage 55 arranged coaxially with the shaft. Lubricant then passes by means of a groove 56 into the wearing surfaces of the upper bearing 26 and is discharged at the lower end thereof to the compressor. It percolates through the various clearances between the operating parts of the compressor to theupper surface of the casting 16, and a portion thereof feeds downwardly in a groove 57 to the wearing surfaces of the intermediate bearing 25.

The lubricant is discharged from the bearing 25 at the lower end thereof, and is caught by an oil arrester 58 which is soldered to the shaft. Lubricant lodging upon the upper surfaces of the oil arrester 58 is thrown tangentially therefrom, by the action of centrifugal force, into a collector 61 which surrounds the arrester 58 and is held in position by a plurality of screws 62, tapped into the casting 16. Lubricant collected in the collector 61 is removed therefrom by means of the conduit 63 which may be of such ample size as to insure free drainage of the collector 61 at all times. In order to discourage any tendency for the lubricant to remain on the walls of the collector, the

inner or Huid contacting surfaces thereof are coated with enamel, to which the lubricant does not adhere. The under surfaces of the arrester 58 are also coated with enamel in order that any fluid impinging thereon may not creep back to the shaft, as the creeping of lubricant upon enamel is practically impossible. This possibility of creeping is very remote, however; during periods of activity, because of the high centrifugal force resulting from the rapidly `revolving shaft, which naturally tends to throw all lubricant away from the center.

rIhe conduit 63 is so arranged as lto avoid the armature and stator windings of. the motor. Lubricant removed from the inter mediate bearing flows downwardly through current to the the open end of the conduit and falls into' the lower portion of the casting 16 wherein it circulates through the annular passage 64, iiows over the bearing 24, and, by means o f the groove 65, Hows to the under side of the bearing. It is Finally removed through the passage 66 which is connected through a conduit 67, and union 68 with the suction pipe 69 of the compressor. A check valve 7 0 for preventing a back flow of the lubricant upon a stoppage of the apparatus is provided in the passage 66. The pipe 69 communicates with the passage 46 for the return of the refrigerant vapors from the evaporators to the compressor.

The commutator brush ring 71 is supported by a plurality of porcelain covered studs 72, the character of the surface being such as to minimize any tendency for the lubricant to adhere thereto.4 Supported upon the studs 72 is a baffle 73 for preventing a splashing of lubricant upon the commutator. Disposed below and adjacent to the baille 73 isI a lubricant arrester 75 which is closely litted to the shaft and which is prevented from rotating upon the shaft by the weight of. the mechanism. It is provided with a concave surface for the reception of lubricant carried upwardly by the shaft. A circular groove 77 for trapping lubricant which may seep upwardly between the motor shaft 21 and the arrester 75 is provided therein. A plurality of radially disposed openings 78 communicate with the groove 77, and the trapped lubricant is thrown by the action of centrifugal force into the lower portion of the casting 18. A s lash cylinder 76 surrounds the arrester 5 and is interposed between the balile 73 and the inner surface of the casting 18. The surfaces-of the splash cylinder 76 and the convex surface of the arrester 75 are coated with enamel to prevent the creeping of lubricant along these members.

The operation of the apparatus thus described is as follows: The condensing chamber 10 and the receptacle 17 disposed therein are lilled to a level such as indicated on the drawing with a suitable working fluid. The working fluid generally employed in my apparatus is a combination of a refrigerant and a lubricant which readily mix one with the other to form a homogeneous liquid or physical solution. Upon starting the motor 12, the compressor 11 discharges through the port 29 and the conduit 35 a commingled liquid working fluid and vapor which impinges upon the baille 37. The liquid worlrfrigerant contained therein is vaporized off,

percentage of lubricant.

The hot refrigerant vapors after passing through the opening 38, come into contact with the coils 39 and are condensed by the coolin action thereof. The liquid refrigerant fa ls to the lower portion of the condensin chamber, and, upon sufficient rise of liq ui level therein, the float 45 will act to open the reducing valve 44 and permit a flow of liquid refrigerant through the conduit 43 to the evaporators. Within the evaporators (not shown) the refrigerant liquid is evaporated by the absorption of heat from the refrigerator box, and the refrigerant vaporsv return through the conduit 69 and passage 46 to the inlet port 28 of the compressor.

Lubrication of the working parts vof the compression mechanism is accomplished as follows: The liquid working fluid within the receptacle 17, which has been subjected to the heat of the compressor and therefore contains a high percentage of lubricant, is conveyed by means of the conduit 51 and the difference in pressure prevailing between the condensin chamber and the motor chamber to the cyllndrical opening 55 i'n the upper portion of the compressor. The lubricant then feeds downwardly through the lgroove 56 and the wearing surfaces of the aring 26 tothe-compressor. It percolates through the various working clearances therein and is deposited upon the upper surface of the casting 16. A portion of this lubricant then fiows because of pressure difference into the oove 57 and thence into the wearing su aces of the intermediate bearing 25. The lubricant discharged from the lower portion of the bearing 25 is removed from the shaft by the arrester 58 and is thrown by the action of centrifugal force, tangentially from the arrester into the col` lector 61.

The lubricant then drains by gravity from the collector 61 through the conduit 63 to the lower bearing 24. It fiows over the bearing, and to the under side of the bearing by means of the groove 65. Circulation is induced by the suction of the compressor, actin through the passage 66 and conduit 67. he lubricant removed mingles with the refrigerant vapors in the conduit 69,

is drawn upwardly to the suction port ofy the compressor and the cycle of operation is then repeated. 4 v

I have found from continued experimentthat, by the employment of the method and means heretofore described in this specification, adequate 4lubrication of the working parts of an enclosed refrigerator compression mechanism may be effected. It will be noted that I employ a novel means for conducting the lubricant to and from the bearings and.

that I also coat portions of the lubricant confiningl means with a vitreous substance, such as porcelain, enamel, etc., whereby the lubricant is confined exclusively to the lubricant passages and to the bearings.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from thel spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as .are specifically set forth in the appended claims. v l l What I claim is:

1. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a refrigerant fluid is successively vaporized, compressed and condensed in a repeating cycle, the combination 'of a condensing chamber, a motor disposed therein, a shaft asso,-

ciated with said motor', bearings for the shaft, means for supplying lubricant to` the bearings, and means for confining the lubricant discharged from the bearings within predetermined limits, said confining means having vitreous surfaces.

2. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a refrigerant Huid is successively vaporized, compressed and condensed in a repeating cycle, the combination of a chamber, a motor and a compressor disposed Within the chamber, a shaft connecting the motor and the compressor, bearings for the shaft, vmeans for supplying lubricant to ,the bearings, and means for confining the lubricant discharged from the bearings within predetermined limits, said confining means having vitreous surfaces.

3. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a refrigerant fiuid is successively vaporized, compressed and condensed in a repeating cycle, the combination of a compressor, a motor for driving the compressor, a housing for the motor and the compressor, a shaft connecting the motor and the compressor, a bearing for the shaft, a lubricant arrester 1nterposed between the bearing and the motor and secured to the shaft, whereby lubricant discharged from the bearing is thrown from the shaft by the action of centrifugal force,

' of the motor.

4. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a. refrigerant fi'uid is successively vaporized,l compressed andv condensed in a repeating cycle, the combination of a condensing chamber, a motor disposed within the condensing chamber, a shaft associated with the motor, a bearing for the fshaft, a lubricant arrester interposed between the ybearing and the `motor and asecured to the shaft, whereby lubricant discharged from AIthe bearing is thrown from the shaft, a stationary collector surrounding the arrester for collecting the lubricant thrown off, and means for conveying the collected lubricant away from the current bearing portion of the motor.

5. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a refrigerant fluid is successively vaporized, compressed and condensed in a repeating cycle, the combination of a compressor, a motor for driving the compressor, a common housing for the compressor and the motor, a shaft connecting the compressor and the motor, a bearing for the shaft interposed between the motor and the compressor, a lubricant arrester interposed between the motor and the bearing and rigidly secured to the shaft, said arrester having surfaces for the reception of lubricant discharged from the bearing and having its remaining surfaces covered with a vitreous substance, and a collector surrounding the arrester, said collector having its lubricant contacting surfaces covered with a vitreous substance.

A6. In a refrigeratingapparatus in which a refrigerant fluid is successively vaporized, compressed and condensed in a repeating cycle, the combination of a condensing chamber, a motor dis osed within the condensing chamber, a sha t associated with the motor, bearings for the shaft disposed on each side of the motor, means for conveying lubricant to one of the bearings, means for throwing off from the shaft, by the action of centrifugal force, lubricant discharged from said bearings, stationary means for collecting the lubricant thrown off, and a conduit for conveying said collected lubricant to the remaining bearing.

7. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a refrigerant iuid is successively vaporized, compressed and condensed in a repeating cycle, the combination of Ya compressor, a motor for driving the compressor, a chamber for housing both the motor and the compressor, bearings for the shaft disposed on each side of the motor, means for conveying lubricant to one of the bearings, means for throwing off from the shaft lubricant discharged from said bearings, stationary means for collecting the lubricant thrown off, and means for conveying said collected lubricant to the remaining bearing.

8. In a refrigerating apparatus in which 'a refrigerant fluid is successively vaporized, 'compressed and condensed in a, repeating cycle, the combination of a condenser chamber, a motor disposed within the condensing chamber, a sha-ft associated with the motor,

a bearing for supporting one end of the shaft disposed within the condensing chamber, means for passing lubricant over the bearing, commutator brushes associated with the motor, and member surrounding the bearing for supporting the commutator brushes, said supportingl members having vitreous surfaces.

9. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a refrigerant fluid is successively vaporized, compressed and condensed in a repeating cycle, the combination of a chamber, a motor and a compressor disposed within the chamber, a shaft structure common to the motor and the compressor, a bearing for the shaft structure interposed between the motor and the compressor, a second bearing for supporting the shaft structure disposed on the opposite side of the motor, means forI conveying lubricant to the first mentioned bear* ing, means for throwing off from the shaft, by the action of centrifugal force, lubricant discharged from said first mentioned bearing, means for collecting the lubricant thrown off, a conduit for conveying said collected lubricant to the second bearing, said conduit being arranged in such manner as to pass without the windings of the motor, and means for utilizing the suction of the compressor to remove the lubricant from the second bearing. v

10. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a refrigerant fluid is successively vaporized, compressed and condensed in a repeating cycle, the combination of a condensing chamber, a motor disposed therein, a shaft associated with said motor, a bearing provided in the condensing chamber for supporting one end of the shaft, means for supplying lubricant to the bearing, a lubricant arrester interposed between the bearing and the motor and rigidly secured to the shaft, said arrester having surfaces for the reception of lubricant discharged from the bearing and having its remaining surfaces covered with a vitreoussubstance, and a splash cylinder surrounding the arrester, said cylinder having vitreous surfaces.

11. 1In a refrigerating apparatus in which a. refrigerant fluid is successively vaporized, compressed and condensedin a repeating cycle, a chamber, a motor and a compressor disposed therein, a shaft connecting the motor and the compressor', a bearing provided in the chamber for supporting one end of the shaft, means for supplying lubricant to 4the bearing, commutator brushes associated with the motor, means for supporting the commutator brushes including a plurality of membershaving vitreous surfaces, 4a baffle interposed between the commutator brushes and the bearing for restricting communication therebetween, a` lubricant arrester disposed adjacent to the baille and secured to the shaft, whereby lubricant discharged from the bearing is thrown away from the shaft by the action of centrifugal force, said lubricant arrester having that portion of its surfacev which is adjacent to the baffle covered with a. vitreous substance, a splash cylinder surrounding the arrester v for segregating the lubricant thrown olf by the arrester, and means for removing lubricant discharged from the bearing.

12. In a lubricating system for a refrigerating apparatus in which a refrigerant fluid is successively vaporized, compressed and condensed 'in a repeating cycle and in which a working fluid composed of an intimate mixture, of a refrigerant and a lubricant is employed, a condensing chamber, a

receptacle for liquid working fluid disposed` within the condensing chamber, a compressor disposed in the liquid working fluid whereby the heat of the compressor may be employed to vaporize off refrigerant from the working fluid, a motor for driving the compressor, a shaft structure common to the compressor and the motor, a bearing for said shaft structure interposed between the motor and the compressor, a second bearing for supporting said shaft structure disposed on the opposite side of the motor, means for conveying the liquid working fluid which has been sdbjected to the heat of the compressor, as lubricant to the first mentioned bearing, means for throwing off from the shaft, by the action of centrifugal force, lubricant discharged from said first mentioned bearing, means for collecting the lubricant thrown olf, a conduit disposed without the motor for conveying the collected lubricant to the second bearing, and means for-utilizing the suction of the compressor to remove the lubricant from the second bearing.

y 13. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a chamber, a receptacle for liquid working fluid disposed within the chamber, a compressor disposed in the liquid working fluid so that the heat generated by said compressor may be utilized to va orize off refrigerant from the working uid, a motor for driving the com ressor disposed within the chamber, a sha structure common to the compressor and the motor, a bearing for said structure interposed between the motor and the compressor, a Second bearing for supporting the shaft structure disposed on the opposite side of the motor, means for conveying the liquid working fluid which has been subjected to the heat of the compressor, as a lubricant, to the first mentioned bearing, means rotatable with the shaft structure for throwing off lubricant discharged from said bearing, a stationary col'- lector surrounding the arrester for collecting the lubricant thrown oli", means for conveying the collected lubricant to the second bearing, and a {luid-withdrawal path connecting the second bearing with the inlet of thecompressor for removing lubricant from the second bearing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 22nd day of May,

MATSON C. TERRY. 

